STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- So, since the 2014 New York State math and English Language assessment tests are completed, you might think students could put away their No. 2 pencils, and teachers could actually switch from test prep to real instruction.

Well, that appears to be the wrong assumption.

Tuesday through Thursday, and Tuesday through Thursday of next week, public school students in grades three to eight are scheduled to take three 90-minute exams, in social studies, science and language arts.

These exams are part of the Measure Of Student Learning (MOSL), and their scores will be incorporated into the teacher evaluation system, as set by state law. For those
teachers whose students take statewide standardized tests, student
progress on the tests will account for 20 percent of an evaluation. Other types of performance
assessments will be used for teachers whose students don't take
standardized tests. All schools are required to administer the MOSL exams before May 16.

And, if that isn't enough, the state Education Department and Pearson Testing, the company that makes up the state exams, will be giving students "field tests" between June 2 and June 11, to help the company develop questions for future tests. Those tests will not be graded, but will be sent back to Pearson for review.

"It's absurd. Basically the whole months of May and June is going to be taken up with these tests, and instructional time will be lost," said Community Education Council (CEC) member Michael Reilly, an Eltingville father of three.

Another CEC member, Laura Timoney, whose son attends Egbert Intermediate School in Midland Beach, was even more blunt.

"Enough with the tests. Our kids are exhausted and frustrated, and they're losing instruction time in the classroom.

"And as for the so-called 'field tests' -- I don't think our kids should be losing instructional time and used as guinea pigs to help out a multi-million dollar corporation like Pearson," she said.

Oh, and by the time the MOSL and "field testing" finish up next month, it will just about be time for students to take final exams.